Matt Garza plays catch again Saturday
By GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com March 2, 2013 2:37PM
Matt Garza | Gordon Wittenmyer/Sun-Times
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza played catch again Saturday and fared well, but manager Dale Sveum admitted Saturday it’s unlikely the right-hander will open the season on time.
“I’m not going to lie. That opening series probably is a long shot,” said Sveum, who said Garza is expected to start throwing from a mound in about a week and then start working toward a Cactus League start.
Garza, who began playing catch Thursday for the first time since the Feb. 17 injury that strained his left lat, might have enough time for three or four starts before the season opens April 1, which would take him through about a 70- or 85-pitch outing.
“Then you have to make the decision: opening day weekend or a week [or so later],” Sveum said. “It’s kind of a wait-and-see thing now. We’ll probably know more about that in a week when we see what happens off that mound.”
